Dudley News

Tributes paid to long-serving businessman

12:04pm Friday 27th January 2012

A LONG-serving Dudley town businessman has died suddenly, aged 68.

Philip Henry Smith built up the prominent Philip Henry Furniture store in King Street from scratch in 1984.

He died on Saturday, January 21, after suffering a heart attack just 10 minutes after returning to his Kingswinford home.

Mr Smith leaves his wife of 42-years Sylvia, three children Tracey, Warren and Emma and six grandchildren.

Paying tribute to her dad, who was a keen West Bromwich Albion fan, youngest daughter Emma, said: “He was such a lovely, kind man.

“He was totally independent and did everything on his own.

“He was also quite argumentative, but would do anything for anyone.

“Dad also loved doing things with his family. He absolutely idolised his grandchildren, I said I don’t think there was anyone who loved them more.

“He worked all the time, but all his spare time was spent with the family.”

Mr Smith was born in Smethwick and at the age of 14 was diagnosed with a brain tumour behind his eye, which affected his sight all his life.

He was introduced to his sweetheart Sylvia through a mutual friend and the couple were married in March 1969.

The town trader also featured in the News over the years, as he launched a campaign against Dudley Council for converting King Street into a bus lane, which he blamed for a drop in trade.

Emma said the family hoped to continue running the store for as long as possible.

Mr Smith’s funeral is set to take place on Friday, February 3 at 9.40am at Gornal Crematorium, followed by a wake Fox and Goose in Bromley Lane, Kingswinford.

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